Free-use Scientology-related video project

Contents

These videos are maintained on Wikiversity's sister project for images and media files, Wikimedia Commons. By virtue of the video files being on Wikimedia Commons, they must therefore be available under a free-use license, which allows them to be provided as an educational resource. Also in this manner, they can be used throughout multiple other Wikipedia sites - without needing to be locally uploaded to each site.

This project researches, catalogs, and documents the availability of free-use licensed videos relating to the subject matter of Scientology. Within this context, the project indexes what types of videos are available as free-use media, and provides a brief description of the videos.

Former members of the Church of Scientology have spoken out about their experiences inside the organization. These vary depending on their prior role in the organization's hierarchy itself, as well as on the nature of the individual's own personal experiences relating to their life in the group, and that of their friends and family members.

Gerry Armstrong is a former Scientologist; when he was a member of the elite group the Sea Org, he was tasked with researching and cataloging papers for a biography on Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

Jason Beghe is an actor and former Scientologist; while a member of the organization he participated in promotional videos for Scientology. Scientology leader David Miscavige called him "the poster boy for Scientology". Beghe left the organization in 2007.

Tom Padgett is a former Scientologist, who experienced the policy of Disconnection. He became a critic of Scientology, and spoke at a conference critical of destructive cults. Padgett was an actor in the movie about Scientology, called The Bridge.

Former Scientologist Patty Pieniadz speaks at protest of Scientology in New Haven, Connecticut about her 27 years in the organization and her 14 years in its Office of Special Affairs.(February 10, 2008)

Disconnection, when used in Scientology, is a term used to describe the severance of all ties between a Scientologist and a friend, colleague, or family member deemed to be antagonistic towards Scientology. The practice of disconnection is a form of religious shunning. Among Scientologists, disconnection is viewed as an important method of removing obstacles to one's spiritual growth. However, disconnection is controversial since it has ended marriages and separated children from their parents. Scientology spokesmen currently deny that such a policy exists.

At Anonymous DC's Valentine's Day flash raid protesting the Church of Scientology, Meme offers "Free Valentines" and other flyers to passers-by that explained why we were protesting outside the Founding Church of Scientology in Washington DC. The flyers explained what Anonymous was, and gave an overview of Operation Snow White and Fair Game, among other things.(February 14, 2009)

The intersection of Scientology and abortion has a controversial history which began with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's discussion of abortion in his 1950 book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Hubbard wrote in Dianetics that abortion and attempts at abortion could cause trauma to the fetus and to the mother in both spiritual and physical ways. Scientologists came to believe that attempted abortions could cause traumatic experiences felt by the fetus, which would later be remembered as memories referred to in Scientology as "engrams". Multiple female Scientologists have come forward in later instances, stating that if members of Scientology's elite group the Sea Org become pregnant, they are told they must have an abortion.